Valves for spray cans



y 1965 J. G. ELLIS EI'AL VALVES FOR SPRAY CANS Filed Nov. 22. 1961 United States Patent 3,182,864 VALVES FOR SPRAY CANS John G. Ellis, Chagrin Falls, Vernon C. Groth, Mentor,

and Albert John Hall, Northtield, Ohio; said Ellis and said Groth asslgnors to Sprayon Products, lnc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 157,296 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) (Filed under Rule 47(a) and 35 U.S.C. 116) This invention relates to valves and more particularly to valves for aerosol spray cans.

Aerosol cans, which contain a liquefied gaseous propellant, for example, dichlorodifluoromethane, mixed with a liquid or other substance to be sprayed, are widely used. Paints, lacquers, insecticides, insect repellents, deodorants, waxes, polishes, cosmetics are among the many materials that are dispensed in quantities from aerosol cans. Each can requires a valve to control the discharge of the aerosol spray, and the valves play an important, if not controlling part in the efl'icacy and saleability of the aerosol spray products. The valves must meet severe requirements. Thus, the valves must entirely be leakproot under all normal conditions and yet the valves must be capable of easy operation by pressure of the user's finger. As the same time the valves must not be liable to accidental opening. The valves must be free from clogging, yet they must effectively control the flow of comparatively small amounts of the material to be sprayed. They must provide space for primary expansion of the liquid propellant and proper atomization and mixing of the material being sprayed with the gasified and atomized propellants before release to the atmosphere. The valves must permit filling of the cans through the valves in some cases. The valves must be adaptable to standard aerosol cans and be capable of assembly with the cans with conventional machinery at low cost. All of these qualifications must be met by valves that can be manufactured and assembled at low cost and that are composed of materials that will withstand the chemicals being sprayed.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a valve that meets all of the requirements noted above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation, with parts broken away, of a typical aerosol can, showing a valve assembly made according to a preferred form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an axial cross-section on enlarged scale showing a preferred form of valve assembly embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross section to the same scale as FIGURE 3 taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a portion of a cup that forms a part of the valve assembly, as it is before the assembly is completed.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a valve assembly indicated in general at and made according to a preferred form of the present invention is shown as applied to a typical aerosol can 11. Can 11 has a cylindrical side wall 12 and a concave bottom 13. The upper end of the can has an opening 14 of lesser diameter than the cylindrical wall 12; the valve assembly 10 functions to close the opening 14 and is supported by the walls of the can surrounding the opening. The valve assembly is supported within the opening by a supporting cup 15 having its peripheral edge 17 crimped into sealing enice gagement with the beaded upper edge 18 of the can 11, a rubber or rubber-like sealing material 19 being interposed between the flange 17 and the upper edge 18 of the can in customary manner. The valve also is ordinarily provided with a dip tube 20 extending to the bottom of the can so that the pressure of the propellant gas above the liquid contents of the can forces liquid through the dip tube to the valve. It is customary to employ dip tubes in aerosol spray cans, but if it is desired simply to discharge a gas from the can instead of a liquid or if the can is intended for upside down operation, than the dip tube may be omitted.

In order to provide for easy actuation of the valve, the valve assembly also embodies an actuating cap 22. The valve is opened when the flap 23 of cap 22 is depressed, the material to be sprayed then being discharged through a nozzle member 25 that is carried by the cap 22.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve assembly is disposed within a valve body 27. Valve body 27 has a main cylindrical portion 28 having a cylindrical bore 29 terminating in a chamfered portion 30 at its lower end. The lower end of the valve body is also enlarged as shown to provide a flange 31 which is utilized for mounting the valve body in the cup 15.

The upper portion of the cylindrical bore 29 merges into a valve seat portion 33 which is preferably convex as shown. A discharge passageway 34, which is of reduced diameter as compared to the main bore 29 and the valve seat 33, leads from the center of the valve seat to a chamt'ered portion 35 at the upper end of the valve body.

In order to provide a stop for vertically positioning the actuating cap 22, the exterior of the valve body is pr0- vided with a radially extending shoulder 37 between the main cylindrical portion 28 of the body and the reduced cylindrical portion 39. The portion 39 is comparatively short and is joined to another generally cylindrical portion 40 which is of still smaller diameter. The reduced portion 40 provides an annular expansion chamber 41 between the inner surface of the actuating cap 22 and the outer surface of the reduced portion 40 as explained more fully below. The expansion chamber is connected to the flared end 35 ot the discharge passage 34 by a groove 43 formed in the exterior surface of the portion 40.

It will be seen that, except for the groove 43, both the internal and the external surfaces of the valve body 27 are concentric surfaces of revolution. Since the grooves 43 extends parallel to the axis of the valve body and since the diameters of the surfaces become progressively larger from the top to the bottom of the valve body. the body, including the groove 43, can be molded rapidly and accurately from an appropriate plastic material, such as nylon or Delrin," at reasonable cost with a comparatively simple mold. The body is complete when it leaves the mold, no drilling or machining operations being required.

In order to control the flow of fluid through the valve body a valve plug 45 is disposed within the main central bore 29. Valve plug 45 is symmetrically formed and consists of two convex sealing portions 46 which are joined to a fluted central portion 47 by short cylindrical portions 48. Each convex portion 46 has a central indentation 49, the upper one of which is engaged by an actuating pin 50 of the actuating cap 22 so that when the flap 23 is depressed by the user's finger the pin 50 forces the valve plug away from its seat.

The flutes in the central portion of the valve plug pro vide passages 5i (sec FIGURE 3) for fluid flow around the valve plug without substantial restriction when the 3 valve is displaced from its seat, while the lands 52 guide the plug within the bore 29.

Since the valve plug is of symmetrical construction it too can be readily molded, preferably from polyethylene, and because of its symmetrical construction it makes no difference which end of the plug is uppermost in the assembly. Whichever sealing surface 46 is uppermost makes sealing engagement with the concave valve seat 33 of the body portion. Since the sealing surfaces on both the plug and the seat are convex the area of contact between the members is kept at a minimum and hence high unit sealing pressures are obtained without requiring high total sealing pressures. Thus, it is possible to provide a lealtproof seal and at the same time have a valve that can be opened readily by the user and that is not subject to excessive wear or deformation because of the forces involved.

In order to hold the valve plug 47 with its upper sealing surface 46 normally in contact with the valve seat 33, a valve spring 53 is disposed within the main bore 29 of the valve body 28. The upper end of spring 53 engages one end of the fluted central portion 47 of the valve plug and is centered by the lower convex projection 46 and lower cylindrical portion 48 while the lower end of the spring rests upon an inwardly turned conical flange 54 of the valve cup 15, the flange being centrally perforated as at 55 to provide communication between the interior of the can and the bore 29.

The valve cup 15, which is preferably a light gauge steel stamping, not only supports the valve within the can and acts as a closure for the open top of the can but also functions to retain the parts of the valve together. As noted above the valve cup is provided with a flange 17 having a sealant 19 therein and this part is crimped to the top of the can upon final assembly of the valve with the can. The cup also has a cylindrical wall portion 56 which is joined to a radially extending portion 57. Before assembly of the valve the radially extending portion 57 of the cup is joined to a cylindrical portion 58 through an upwardly extending flange 61 (see FIGURE The internal diameter of portion 58 is such that it closely fits the enlarged lower flange portion 31 of the valve body 27. The bottom of the cup is constituted by a flat bottom 59 and the up-struck conical portion 54.

The assembly of the valve is completed by inserting the valve plug 47 within the valve body 27 and inserting a spring 53 into the valve body with one end of the spring engaging the valve plug. This assembly of valve body, plug and spring is then inserted within the portion 58 of the valve cup, a sealing washer 60 composed of rubber or other suitable sealing materials having previously been placed within the extension 58 and against the bottom 59. The cup is then subjected to a crimping operation to crimp the metal of flange 61 as it was originally formed inwardly to form it into an inwardly extending flange 610 as shown in FIGURE 2 which engages the shoulder 63 on the bottom flange 31 of the valve body and compresses the lower end of the bottom flange 31 of the valve body against the sealing washer 60. By this simple operation the valve assembly is completed, the parts of the valve are permanently secured together and a leakproof connection is made between the cup and the valve body 27.

The assembly of valve body and associated mechanisms with the cup 15 constitutes a complete article of commerce which can be sold as such to packagers of aerosol products and by them installed in aerosol cans. However, ordinarily the valve body will be utilized with a dip tube and an actuating cap 22 and associated parts and 50 as previously described. As shown particularly in FIGURE 2, the opening 55 in the up-struck portion 54 of the bottom of the valve cup provides a sharp annular edge that firmly holds the dip tube in place. Preferably, the perforation is made while the bottom of the cup is flat and thereafter the conical configuration is given to the metal surrounding the perforation, thus producing the desired sharp inner edge. Thus, with a dip tube made of an appropriate plastic material such as polyethylene, it is necessary only to insert the tube a slight distance into the central bore of the valve body through the opening 55--about A inch in practice-whereupon the tube is firmly held in place. It is to be noted that if the tube should swell because of the action of the materials within the can, the swelling simply will make the bond between the tube and the edge of opening 55 more secure, whereas with prior constructions wherein the tube is slipped over a nipple, swelling of the tube may cause it to become released from the nipple.

Any convenient type of actuating device and spray nozzle or orifice can be used with the valve, so long as a pin or the like, such as pin 50, is provided to actuate the valve to open position. However, the valve is de signed specifically for use with an actuating cap 22 of known type and having a flap 23 that is hinged to the body of the cap so that when the flap 23 is depressed by the users finger it depresses the pin 50 that is frictionally engaged within an opening 65 in the cap.

The body of the cap has a cylindrical bore 66 that engages and closely fits the portion 40 of the valve body. Beneath the bore 66 there is a slightly enlarged bore 67 which provides the expansion space 41 surrounding the portion 40 of the valve body. Expansion space 41 communicates with slot 43 as previously described and also communicates with nozzle member 25 that is pressed into an opening of the body of the cap. The nozzle is provided with an enlarged bore 69, constituting an extension of the expansion chamber 41, and a spray orifice 70.

Beneath the expansion chamber the bore 67 closely fits the portion 39 of the valve body and the bore 67 terminates in an outwardly extending shoulder 71 which engages shoulder 37 of the valve body and thus accurately locates the actuating cap with respect to the valve body. The lower portion of the valve actuating cap comprises a cylindrical portion 72 having a bore 73 that makes a hand press fit with the exterior cylindrical portion 28 of the valve body. At its lower end, the cylindrical portion 73 is slightly enlarged as at 74 and chamfered as at 75 to aid in applying the cap to the valve body.

Valves made according to the present invention are advantageous because the parts can be manufactured and assembled economically. The valves are reliable in operation and the valve assemblies can be assembled with aerosol cans simply by crimping the valve cups to the cans. The valves lend themselves not only to operations in which the cans are filled with refrigerated materials through the opening 14 and the valves subsequently mounted on the cans, but also to the so-called hot-filling" method wherein the product is filled into the cans and the valves are assembled with the cans before the cans are filled with propellant; then the cans are filled with propellant by forcing the material through the valve against the opposition of the spring. When this method is employed, the cap 22 is not installed at the time of propellant filling, and a fitting that makes sealing engagement with portion 28 of the valve body is slipped over the valve body and the propellant forced into the can under pressure, the pressure of the propellant moving the valve plug 45 off of its seat against the spring 53. The fluted arrangement of the valve plug allows room for passage of propellant so that the filling can be carried out rapidly.

The valve is advantageous in service because it can be opened with reasonably light pressure on the part of the user. Furthermore, the discharge from the valve all takes place through the small bore 34 around the pin 50 and then direction of the flow of the fluid is reversed through the slot 43 into the expansion chamber 41; this assures proper atomization of the material, and a turbulent discharge and thorough mixing of the material in the expansion chamber. These actions take place regardless of the position of the slot 43 with respect to the discharge nozzle 25, and for this reason no care need be exercised to position the nozzle 69 of the actuating cap with respect to the slot 43 in any particular place. It is only necessary to press the cap onto the valve body as far as it will go in order to locate the cap properly with respect to the valve.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The essential characteristics of the invention are summarized in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A valve assembly for aerosol spray cans comprising a supporting cup in the form of a one-piece stamping adapted to constitute a closure for an aerosol spray can, a valve body having a cylindrical portion terminating at its lower end in a flange, a main bore within the valve body and concentric therewith, a valve seat formed in the valve body at the upper end of said main bore and a discharge passageway extending upwardly within the valve body from the valve seat, a valve plug within said main bore and movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat, and a valve spring within said main bore for urging said valve plug into engagement with said valve seat, said supporting cup being crimped to said flange and having a perforated bottom extending under said flange of said valve body and supporting said valve spring.

2. A valve assembly for aerosol spray cans comprising a supporting cup in the form of a one-piece stamping adapted to constitute a closure for an aerosol spray can, a unitary valve body having a cylindrical portion terminating at its lower end in a flange, a main bore within the valve body and concentric therewith, a valve seat formed in said valve body at the upper end of said main bore and a discharge passageway extending upwardly within the valve body from the valve seat, a valve plug within said main bore, a valve spring within said main bore for urging said valve plug into engagement with said valve seat, said supporting cup having a bottom having an opening therein extending under said flange of said valve body and supporting said valve spring, and a dip tube projecting through said opening into communication with said main bore.

3. A valve assembly for aerosol spray cans comprising a supporting cup adapted to constitute a closure for an aerosol spray can, a unitary valve body having a cylindrical portion terminating at its lower end in a flange, a main bore within the valve body and concentric therewith, a valve seat formed in the valve body at the upper end of said main bore and a discharge passageway extending from the valve seat, a valve plug within said main bore, a valve spring within said main bore for urging said valve plug into engagement with said valve seat, said supporting cup having a bottom having an opening therein extending under said flange of said valve body, and a dip tube projecting through said opening into said main bore, said dip tube being retained in position by engagement with the edge of said opening.

4. A valve assembly for aerosol spray cans comprising a supporting cup adapted to constitute a closure for an aerosol spray can, a valve bodyhaving' a cylindrical portion terminating at its lower end in a flange, a main bore within the valve body and concentric therewith, a valve seat formed in the valve body at the upper end of said main bore and a discharge passageway extending from the valve seat, a valve plug within said main bore, a valve spring within said main bore for urging said valve plug into engagement with said valve seat, said supporting cup having a bottom having an opening therein extending under said flange of said valve body and supporting said valve spring, and a plastic dip tube projecting through said opening into said main bore, the bottom of said cup being deformed upwardly around 6 said opening and the edge of said opening forming an indentation in the outer surface of the dip tube to retain the dip tube in position.

5. A valve for aerosol spray cans and the like comprising a one-piece valve body and having a main cylindrical portion having a main cylindrical -bore therein terminating at the lower end of the valve body and said valve body having a valve seat therein at the upper end of said main cylindrical bore and a discharge passage of reduced diameter as compared to said main bore extending from the valve seat to the upper end of the valve body, said bore, said valve seat and said dis charge passageway all being concentric with said body, a valve plug disposed within the main central bore of the valve body, and adapted to engage said valve seat, a valve spring disposed within said main bore below said valve plug and urging said valve plug against said valve seat, and means providing an expansion chamber surrounding said valve body, said valve body having an axially extending slot on the exterior surface thereof providing communication between said discharge passage and said expansion space.

6. A valve for aerosol spray cans and the like comprising a valve body molded of a plastic material and having a main cylindrical portion having a main bore therein, a valve seat at the upper end of said main bore, a discharge passageway of reduced diameter as compared to said main bore extending from the valve seat portion to the upper end of the valve body, a valve plug disposed within said main bore and adapted to engage said valve seat, a valve spring disposed within said central bore and urging said valve plug against said valve seat, an actuating pin extending into said dis charge passageway of said valve body and and adapted to engage said valve plug to displace it from said valve seat, an actuating cap having a central bore engaging the outer surface of said valve body and having a hinged flap for depressing said actuator pin, a discharge Orifice in said actuating cap, said actuating cap having a bore that closely fits said valve body in one zone and that is spaced from the external surface of said valve body in another zone to provide an expansion chamber sur rounding said valve body and communicating with said discharge orifice, and said valve body having an axially extending slot on the exterior surface thereof providing communication between said discharge passage and said expansion space.

7. A valve for aerosol spray cans and the like comprising a one-piece valve body and having a main cylindrical portion having a main bore therein, a valve seat at the upper end of said main bore, a discharge passageway of reduced diameter as compared to said main bore extending from the valve seat portion to the upper end of the valve body, an elongated valve plug disposed within said main bore and adapted to engage said valve seat, a valve spring disposed within said said central bore and urging said valve plug against said valve seat, said valve plug having identical end portions and an enlarged, fluted body portion between said end portions, an actuating pin extending into said discharge passageway of said valve body and adapted to engage said valve plug, an actuating cap having a central bore engaging the outer surface of said valve body and carrying said actuating pin and having a hinged flap for depressing said actuator pin, a discharge orifice in said actuating cap, said actuating cap having a bore that closely tits said valve body in one zone and that is spaced from the external surface of said valve body in another zone to provide an expansion chamber surrounding said valve body and communicating with said discharge orifice, and said valve body having an axially extending slot on the exterior surface thereof providing communication between said discharge passage and said expansion space.

8. A valve for aerosol spray cans and the like comprising a valve body having a main cylindrical portion having a main bore therein, a valve seat at the upper end of said main bore, a discharge passageway extending from said valve seat to the upper end of the valve body, an elongated symmetrical valve plug disposed within said main bore and adapted to engage said valve seat, a valv spring disposed with said main bore and urging said valve plug against said valve seat, said valve plug having identical projecting end portions one of which engages said valve seat when said valve is closed and an enlarged, fluted body portion between said end portions, one end of said fluted body portion providing a seat for said spring and a separately formed actuating pin extending into said discharge passageway and engaging the end of said valve plug that engages the valve seat.

9. A valve assembly for aerosol spray cans comprising a supporting cup in the form of a light-gauge metal stamping adapted to constitute a closure for an aerosol spray can, a valve body secured to said supporting cup, said valve body having a passage therein, said supporting cup having a bottom having an upstruclt generally conical portion extending upwardly at an angle substantially less than 90 and having a perforation therein extending under said valve body, and a dip tube composed of deformable material and having a substantially in the outer surface of the dip tube for retaining the dip tube in position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,529,808 11/50 Martin. 2,582,262 1/52 Loven et al. 2,691,466 10/54 Efiord et al. 2,706,660 4/55 Johnson et al. 2,729,367 1/56 Samuels. 2,744,580 5/56 Schroeder 239-337 X 2,757,964 8/56 Both et al. 2,773,722 12/56 Abplanalp 239-337 X 2,775,483 12/56 Treharne et al. 2,867,356 1/59 Thomas. 2,906,461 9/59 Bretz 239573 X 2,965,271 12/60 Softer et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 863,537 3/61 Great Britain.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

9. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL SPRAY CANS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING CUP IN THE FORM OF A LIGHT-GAUGE METAL STAMPING ADAPTED TO CONSTITUTE A CLOSURE FOR AN AEROSOL SPRAY CAN, A VALVE BODY SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING CUP, SAID VALVE BODY HAVING A PASSAGE THEREIN, SAID SUPPORTING CUP HAVING A BOTTOM HAVING AN UPSTRUCK GENERALLY CONICAL PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY AT AN ANGLE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN 90* AND HAVING A PERFORATION THEREIN EXTENDING UNDER SAID VALVE BODY, AND A DIP TUBE COMPOSED OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL END PORTION PROJECTING THROUGH AND BEYOND SAID PERFORATION AND INTO COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PASSAGE, THE EDGE OF SAID PERFORATION FORMING AND INDENTATION IN THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE DIP TUBE FOR RETAINING THE DIP TUBE IN POSITION. 